Film handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for automatically providing film forming and guiding of a film in desired operative relation with a film transport assembly. This is accomplished through a position programmed member which is movable with respect to the elements of the film transport assembly.

Unitefl States Patent [191 Floden Oct. 16, 1973 [54] FILM HANDLINGAPPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 Invent i l F1046", Palmyra,866,906 2/1953 Germany 226/114 [73] Assignee: RCA Corporation, New York,NY.

Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles [22] Flled' 1971 AssistantExaminer-Gene A. Church [211 App] N 202,352 Attorney-Edward J. Nortonand Eugene M. Whitacre 52 us. Cl. 226/84 [57] ABSTRACT [s 1 Int. Cl.6031) 1/24 Apparatus for automatically providing film forming [58] Fieldof Search 226/82, 83, 84, 91, and guiding of a film in desired Operativerelation with 22 /114 133; 352/157 159 15 a film transport assembly.This is accomplished through a position programmed member which is 56References Cited movable with respect to the elements of the filmtransport assembly.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHCI 16 ms 3.765586 SHEET 1 [IF 2Fig. 1.

PATENTEDUEI 16 ms SHEET 2 [IF 2 Fig. 2

FILM HANDLING APPARATUS The present invention relates to film transportsystems of the type, for example, utilized in motion picture filmprojectors. More particularly, the invention concerns a novel andsimplfied arrangement of a film forming device, which automaticallydisposes and guides the film in desired operative projection relationwith the transport mechanism.

When preparing to operate a film projector apparatus, it is necessary tothread the film from a film supply device through various portions ofthe apparatus. When the apparatus is a motion picture projector, thefilm must be threaded from the supply device between a sprocket wheelandits film maintaining shoe and through a film gate device. Inaddition, for proper operation of the film through the gate device, aloop of film must be provided between the film gate and the sprocketwheel. Manual threading operation takes time, a certain amount of skilland may involve damage to the film.

While automatic film threaders are known, prior art devices do noteasily lend themselves to the rapid film threading operation which thepresent invention will make possible. They usually employ curved channelsections, of which some are movable, to guide the film into theprojector film transport path. The speed of the threading operation islimited by the speed at which the intermittent feed mechanism at thefilm gate, and the metering sprockets can be run.

The present arrangement simplifies the film feed-in path to a straight,comparatively wide, almost vertical chute. The leading end of the filmis rapidly fed between the aperture plate and film shoe and in front ofthe movable retracted threading members of the film transport mechanismincluding the loop forming film guide roller. After the rapid film feedin, the film gate is closed and the retracted threading members arequickly extended to position the film for the projection run.

In accordance with one emboidment of the present invention, there isprovided a film projector transport having first means adapted toreceive a supply of film. Film gate means are spaced from the firstmeans including an aperture plate means and film shoe means arranged tohold said film therebetween, and rotatable annular sprocket means aredisposed intermediate the film supply means and said film gate means. Afilm, when present, is disposed in a first region extending from saidfilm supply means to said film gate means and situated on a given sideof and in spaced relation with said sprocket means. Apparatus forautomatically disposing film from said supply in operative projectionrelation with said transport means is provided. This appartus comprisesfilm guide means including means adapted to cooperate with said sprocketmeans to maintain coaction with said sprocket means. Means are providedfor movably mounting said guide means to traverse a continuous pathwhich includes a first position situated on said given side of saidsprocket means beyond said first region, a second position intermediatesaid sprocket means and said film gate means in which said guide meansis substantially tangent the periphery of said sprocket means, and afurther position to the side of the sprocket means opposite said givenside. Control means are coupled to said mounting means for positioningsaid guide means along said path. Said control means are operative tosequentially move said guide means from said first position through saidsecond position to said further position, to thereby dispose said filmwhen in said first region about said sprocket means and further to forma loop of said film between said sprocket means and said film gatemeans. Said control means is further operative to move said guide meansfrom said further position back to said second position wherein saidguide means is then disposed in said cooperative relation with saidsprocket means.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic, partial diagrammatic plan view of oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the arrangement shown inFIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a film supply device 2, which for example maycomprise a cartridge, including a reel not shown from which a givenlength of a film 4 may be paid out. In spaced relation to the filmsupply 2 is a film gate assembly 6, which includes an aperture plate 8and a film shoe 10. The aperture plate 8 and film shoe 10 are arrangedin yieldable urging relation, by means not shown, for holding a portionof the film 4 therebetween. An intermittently operable claw device 12 isprovided for moving the film 4 through the film gate assembly 6.Intermediate the film gate assembly 6 and the film supply device 2,there is mounted a rotatable sprocket wheel 14 in spaced relation with apair of walllike members 16. The members 16 with the sprocket wheel 14define a region 17 therebetween for the film 4, extending between thefilm supply 2 and the film gate assembly 6.

A film guide roller 18 is mounted for rotation about a pin 20 disposedat an end portion 22 of an elongated arm 24. The arm 24 is pivotallymounted at its other end portion 26, by means of a pin like member 28which is in spaced relation to the sprocket wheel 14. The length of thearm 24 and the spaced location of its pivot axis 28 with respect to thesprocket wheel 14 is arranged, to provide travel of the roller 18 alongan arcuate path intermediate the sprocket wheel 14 and the film gateassembly 6, when the arm 24 is rotated about its pivot point 28. Asshown in FIG. 1, the arcuate path for the roller 18 includes extremepositions denoted by he letters A and B respectively, and a furtherposition C which is intermediate the positions A and B. As shown, theroller 18 when in the position A is disposed to one side of the sprocketwheel 14 and beyond the film region 17. Roller 18 when in the positiondenoted B is disposed to the other side and beyond the sprocket wheel14. The roller 18 when disposed in the position denoted C is disposedsubstantially tangent to the pe: ripheral surface of the annularsprocket wheel 14. The roller 18 when disposed in position C is thusoperative to serve as a sprocket shoe, for maintaining the film 4 inproper cooperative relation with the sprocket wheel The cooperativearrangement between the sprocket wheel 14, the guide roller 18 and arm24 will be further clarified from a consideration of the perspectiveview of FIG. 2, in which like numbered reference characters correspondwith and refer to those shown and described with respect to FIG. 1. Thesprocket wheel 14 is mounted for rotation with a shaft 30. The shaft 30is arranged to provide free rotation of the sprocket wheel 14, in theabsence of a motion influencing force applied to the shaft 30. Thesprocket wheel 14 has a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface 32adapted to cooperate with the film 4. Disposed in annular fashion alongone edge of the peripheral surface 32 are a plurality of sprocket teeth34, which cooperate with film sprocket holes 36 to impart motion to thefilm 4 when the sprocket wheel 14 is rotated.

The roller 18 may be positioned to either side of and beyond thesprocket wheel 14 by means of the pivotal arm 24. In addition as shownin FIG. 2 the roller 18, which is adapted to cooperate with the film 4,may be positioned in tangential contacting relation with the peripheralsurface 32 of the sprocket wheel 14, to thereby establish and maintaincooperation between the film 4 and the sprocket wheel 14.

As shown in FIG. 1 the sprocket wheel shaft 30 is coupled to a firstportion 40 of a controllable clutch means 42. A further portion of 44 ofthe clutch means 42 is coupled by means of a shaft 46 to a sprocketdrive means 48, the energization of which may be controlled in knownmanner by means not shown. The clutch means 42 is of a known type whichmay be selectively controlled, for coupling the shaft 46 with the shaft30 in response to a signal applied to an input terminal 50 of the clutchmeans 42.

Position control of the arm 24 is provided by a reciprocating bell cranktype mechanism which comprises a rotatable disc 52 and an arm 54. Thearm 54 is pivotally coupled at its end 56 to the portion of the arm 24intermediate its ends 22 and 26. The end 58 of arm 54 is pivotallycoupled to the disc 52 by means of an offcentered pin 60. Rotation ofthe disc 52 is provided through a shaft 62 from a controllable drivemeans 64. Situated at the periphery of disc 52 for rotation therewith,is a switch actuating means 66. Situated about the periphery of the disc52, but in spaced relation therewith, is a pair of switching means 68and 70 at a location denoted A. There is also a switching means 72located at a position denoted B and a further switching means 74 locatedat a position denoted C. The switching means 70 and 74 are of a typewhich is disposed in a normally closed or contacting relation, whileswitching means 68 and 72 are of a type which are disposed in a normallyopen or non-contacting relation. The actuating means 66 is located onthe periphery of disc 52 such that, when the means 66 is disposed in theposition denoted A the arm 24 positions the roller 18 at its locationdenoted A. When the actuating means 66 is disposed at position B, thearm 24 positions the roller 18 at its location denoted B, and roller 18is at the C position when actuating means 66 is disposed at position C.In the embodiment shown, the switching means 68 through 74 for examplemay comprise magnetic reed switches with the actuating means 66 being apermanent type magnetic element. In such an arrangement the presence ofthe actuating means 66 opposite a switching means causes that switchingmeans to assume the converse or opposite state from that in which it isnormally disposed. That is, the presence of the actuating means 66 willcause a normally open contact switching means to assume a closed stateand conversely a normally open switching means will assume a closedcontact state.

An energy source 76 provides rotation of the disc 52 and drive shaft 62through the drive means 64. The energy source 76 is coupled in seriesmanner to the drive means 64 through the normally closed contacts ofboth switching means and 74. The energy source 76 is also coupled to thedrive means 64 through a further path which includes a normally openswitching means 78. The switching means 78 may be of the manuallyoperable type or actuated by automatic means not shown. A signalgenerator 80, which for example may be a pulse generator, is coupled toa latchable or bistable state device such as the flip flop 82. The flipflop 82, which may be of known type, is arranged to provide at itsoutput 84 a high or given voltage level in response to a signal at itsinput denoted H, and a zero or low level in response to a signal at itsinput denoted L. The output 84 is coupled thrugh an amplifier 86 toprovide a suitable level for selectively disposing the clutch means 42in its energized or de-energized state. The output of signal generator80 is coupled by a first path thrugh the normally open contacts ofswitching means 68 to the input denoted L of flip flop 82. Signalgenerator 80 is further coupled through the normally open contacts ofswitching means 72 to the input denoted H of the flip flop 82. While asstated the switching means 72 is normally disposed in an open contactstate, as shown in FIG. 1 the contacts of switching means 72 are closeddue to the presence of the actuating means 66.

In operation of the device, the switch actuating means 66 is initiallydisposed in position A with the arm 24 correspondingly assuming theposition to dispose roller 18 in location A. For this condition thenormally open contacts of switching means 68 are closed, therebyproviding a signal from the generator 80 through flip flop means 82 andamplifier 86 to maintain the clutch means 42 in its de-energized state,which permits free rotation of the shaft 30 and sprocket wheel 14. Alsofor this condition the normally closed contacts of switching means 70are disposed in an open state thereby de-energizing the drive means 64to maintain the roller 18 in position A. A portion of the film 4, whichis arranged to be freely paid out from the supply means 2 by eithermanual or automatic means not shown, is withdrawn from the film supply2. The paid out portion of the film 4, denoted by the dashed line 88,extends through the region 17 between and in spaced relationwith theroller means 18 and sprocket wheel 14 and is held between the apertureplate 8 and film shoe 10 of the film gate assembly 6.

The switching means 78 may then be momentarily depressed causing thedisc 52 to be rotated in a clockwise direction as indicated by thearrows 90. Movement of the disc 52 and thus actuating means 66, permitsswitching means 70 to assume its normally closed state therebymaintaining drive to the disc 52. Movement of the disc 52 causesactuating means 66 to move from position A to position 13', with the arm24 correspondingly causing the roller means 18 to move from position Ato position B. This movement of the roller means 18 engages the film 4and disposes it at least partially about and in contacting relation withthe sprocket wheel 14. In addition the movement of the roller 18 toposition B causes a loop of the film 4 to be formed, which extends fromthe sprocket wheel 14 about the roller means 18 to the film gateassembly 6. Upon the actuating means 66 assuming the position B as shownin FIG. 1, the normally open contacts of switching means 72 are closedas shown. The closure of the contacts of switching means 72 causes asignal from generator 80 to be coupled to the input gate of flip flop 82denoted H. The output thus produced at the output of amplifier 86energizes the clutch means 42, to thereby inhibit free rotation of thesprocket wheels 14. The contacts of switching means 70 and 74 being in aclosed state maintains energization of the drive 64 causing theactuating means 66 to move towards the position C. Upon the actuatingmeans 66 assuming the position C the arm 24 correspondingly positionsthe roller means 18 at position C. The actuating means 66 at position Ccauses the normally closed contacts of switching means 74 to be disposedin an open state thereby deenergizing the drive means 64. Thus theroller means 18 is maintained in position C in which it is operative toinsure cooperative relation of the film 4 with the sprocket wheel 14. Atthe same time the formed loop of film 4 is maintained between thesprocket wheel 14 and the film gate assembly 6, thus disposing the film4 in the desired operative porjection relation with the film projectortransport.

When it is desired to remove the film 4 from the operative projectionpath, switching means 78 is momentarily utilized to energize the drive64. Rotation of the disc 52 permits continuous energization of the drive64, until the actuating means 66 reaches the position A and the arm 24positions the roller means 18 back at position A. The switch actuatingmeans 66 being disposed in position A, de-energizes drive 64 throughswitching means 70 and also de-energizes the clutch means 42 throughswitching means 68 as previously described.

It will be understood that the embodiment shown and described isillustrative and that, variations thereof may be made without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the positioningof the roller means 18 may be accomplished by use of such devices ascams, solenoids and pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. Also the switchingmeans and actuating means may include cam or solenoid operatedmicroswitches or valves, optical means such as photocells, or some formof fluidic, pneumatic or hydraulic device.

What is claimed is:

1. In an arrangement comprising apparatus for transporting a motionpicture film over a path between a supply means and a projectionstation, a guide means, a sprocket means positioned atone side of saidpath, means for movably mounting said guide means to traverse acontinuous path which includes a first position situated on the oppositeside of said path, a second position intermediate said sprocket meansand said projection station in which said guide'means is substantiallytangent the periphery of said sprocket means, and a further position tothe side of said sprocket means opposite that nearest said path, controlmeans for moving said guide means from said first position through saidsecond position to said further position to thereby dispose said filmabout said sprocket means and to form a loop of said film between saidsprocket means and said projection station, said control means thenmoving said guide means from said further position to said secondposition to dispose said guide means tangential the periphery of saidsprocket means whereby said film is driveable between said sprocketmeans and said guide means.

2. In a film transport having first means adapted to receive a supply offilm, film gate means spaced from said first means including apertureplate means and film shoe means arranged to hold said film therebetweenand rotatable annular sprocket means disposed intermediate said firstmeans and said film gate means, wherein said film when present isdisposed in a first region extending from said film supply means to saidfilm gate means and situated on a given side of and in spaced relationwith said sprocket means, apparatus for automatically disposing film inoperative relation with said transport means, comprising; film guidemeans including means adapted to cooperate with said sprocket means tomaintain coaction of said film with said sprocket means, means formovably mounting said guide means to traverse a continuous path whichincludes a first position situated on said given side of said sprocketmeans beyond said first region, a second position intermediate saidsprocket means and said film gate means in which said guide means issubstantially tangent the periphery of said sprocket means, and afurther position to the side of said sprocket means opposite said givenside, control means coupled to said mounting means for positioning ofsaid guide means along said path, said control means being operative tosequentially move said guide means from said first position through saidsecond position to said further position to thereby dispose said filmwhen in said first region about said sprocket means and further to forma loop of said film between said sprocket means and said film gatemeans, said control means being further operative to move said guidemeans from said further position back to said second position whereinsaid guide means is disposed in said cooperative relation with saidsprocket means.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said control meansincludes drive means, cyclically moveable means coupled to said drivemeans, means coupling said cyclically moveable means to said film guidemounting means, switching means, switch actuating means coupled to saidcyclically moveable means and responsive thereto for sequentiallyoperating said switching means to selectively energize said drive meansand thereby control the position of said guide means.

4. The invention according to claim 2, and further including drivemeans, controllable clutch means including a first portion coupled tosaid drive means and a further portion coupled to said sprocket means,and means coupled to said control means and responsive to the operationthereof to enable said clutch means upon said guide means assuming saidfurther position to thereby couple said sprocket means to said drivemeans.

5. In a film projector transport having first means adapted to receive asupply of film, film gate means spaced from said first means includingaperture plate means and film shoe means arranged to hold'said filmtherebetween and rotatable annular sprocket means disposed intermediatesaid first means and said film gate means, wherein said film is disposedin a first region extending from said film supply means to said filmgate means and situated on a given side of and in spaced relation withsaid sprocket means, apparatus for automatically disposing film inoperative projection relation with said transport means, comprising; anelongated arm, a film guide roller adapted to cooperate with saidsprocket means to maintain coaction of said film with said sprocketmeans, means mounting said roller to a first portion of said arm, meansmounting said arm at a further portion thereof for pivotal movement ofsaid arm with respect to said first region and said sprocket means,reciprocating means coupled to said arm providing pivotal movementthereof to cause said roller to traverse an arcuate path which includesa first position situated on said given side of said sprocket meansbeyond said first region, a second position in which said guide rolleris disposed in cooperative relation with a peripheral portion of saidsprocket means to guide said film thereover, and a further position tothe side of said sprocket means opposite said given side, drive meansoperatively coupled to said reciprocating means, and means forselectively energizing said drive means to sequentially position saidguide ther position by said arm.

1. In an arrangement comprising apparatus for transporting a motionpicture film over a path between a supply means and a projectionstation, a guide means, a sprocket means positioned at one side of saidpath, means for movably mounting said guide means to traverse acontinuous path which includes a first position situated on the oppositeside of said path, a second position intermediate said sprocket meansand said projection station in which said guide means is substantiallytangent the periphery of said sprocket means, and a further position tothe side of said sprocket means opposite that nearest said path, controlmeans for moving said guide means from said first position through saidsecond position to said further position to thereby dispose said filmabout said sprocket means and to form a loop of said film between saidsprocket means and said projection station, said control means thenmoving said guide means from said further position to said secondposition to dispose said guide means tangential the periphery of saidsprocket means whereby said film is driveable between said sprocketmeans and said guide means.
 2. In a film transport having first meansadapted to receive a supply of film, film gate means spaced from saidfirst means including aperture plate means and film shoe means arrangedto hold said film therebetween and rotatable annular sprocket meansdisposed intermediate said first means and said film gate means, whereinsaid film when present is disposed in a first region extending from saidfilm supply means to said film gate means and situated on a given sideof and in spaced relation with said sprocket means, apparatus forautomatically disposing film in operative relation with said transportmeans, comprising; film guide means including means adapted to cooperatewith said sprocket means to maintain coaction of said film with saidsprocket means, means for movably mounting said guide means to traversea continuous path which includes a first position situated on said givenside of said sprocket means beyond said first region, a second positionintermediate said sprocket means and said film gate means in which saidguide means is substantially tangent the periphery of said sprocketmeans, and a further position to the side of said sprocket meansopposite said given side, control means coupled to said mounting meansfor positioning of said guide means along said path, said control meansbeing operative to sequentially move said guide means from said firstposition through said second position to said further position tothereby dispose said film when in said first region about said sprocketmeans and further to form a loop of said film between said sprocketmeans and said film gate means, said control means being furtheroperative to move said guide means from said further position back tosaid second position wherein said guide means is disposed in saidcooperative relation with said sprocket means.
 3. The inventionaccording to claim 2, wherein said control means includes drive means,cyclically moveable means coupled to said drive means, means couplingsaid cyclically mOveable means to said film guide mounting means,switching means, switch actuating means coupled to said cyclicallymoveable means and responsive thereto for sequentially operating saidswitching means to selectively energize said drive means and therebycontrol the position of said guide means.
 4. The invention according toclaim 2, and further including drive means, controllable clutch meansincluding a first portion coupled to said drive means and a furtherportion coupled to said sprocket means, and means coupled to saidcontrol means and responsive to the operation thereof to enable saidclutch means upon said guide means assuming said further position tothereby couple said sprocket means to said drive means.
 5. In a filmprojector transport having first means adapted to receive a supply offilm, film gate means spaced from said first means including apertureplate means and film shoe means arranged to hold said film therebetweenand rotatable annular sprocket means disposed intermediate said firstmeans and said film gate means, wherein said film is disposed in a firstregion extending from said film supply means to said film gate means andsituated on a given side of and in spaced relation with said sprocketmeans, apparatus for automatically disposing film in operativeprojection relation with said transport means, comprising; an elongatedarm, a film guide roller adapted to cooperate with said sprocket meansto maintain coaction of said film with said sprocket means, meansmounting said roller to a first portion of said arm, means mounting saidarm at a further portion thereof for pivotal movement of said arm withrespect to said first region and said sprocket means, reciprocatingmeans coupled to said arm providing pivotal movement thereof to causesaid roller to traverse an arcuate path which includes a first positionsituated on said given side of said sprocket means beyond said firstregion, a second position in which said guide roller is disposed incooperative relation with a peripheral portion of said sprocket means toguide said film thereover, and a further position to the side of saidsprocket means opposite said given side, drive means operatively coupledto said reciprocating means, and means for selectively energizing saiddrive means to sequentially position said guide roller along saidarcuate path.
 6. The invention according to claim 5, including means forrotatably mounting said sprocket means providing free bidirectionalrotation thereof, selectively operable means coupled to said sprocketmounting means and operable in a first condition thereof to inhibit freerotation of said sprocket means, and means responsive to the operationof said reciprocating means to dispose said selectively operable meansin said first condition upon said roller being positioned in saidfurther position by said arm.